AU welcomes deal on Mali

The African Union (AU) on Saturday said it welcomed the signing of the Framework Agreement of Bamako between the junta and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on April 6, which provides a series of steps for restoration of constitutional order in Mali. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU Commission, urged all stakeholders concerned to implement, in good faith, the just- concluded agreement to enable the country to overcome the daunting challenges facing it, in order to restore democratic process as well as the authority of the state over its entire territory. The chairperson has reiterated AU’s commitment to continue its endeavour towards strengthening the collective action of Africa as well as to mobilisation of the international community on its side to ensure the process of the actual restoration of constitutional order in Mali and protection of the country’s national unity and territorial integrity. The union has announced in a press statement that its Peace and Security Council would soon be appraised with these developments in the situation in order to take appropriate measures. The junta, under intense pressure from international communities, last Friday, agreed to hand over power to an interim government that would organise elections, in return for the lifting of sanctions imposed by ECOWAS and an amnesty of its members from prosecution. It came two weeks after the junta toppled the President Amadou Toumani Toure on March 22 due to their anger at the government’s handling of the rebellion in the north. The Tuareg-led rebels claimed independence of “Azawad” on Friday in the north, which has been met with immediate rejection and condemnation from Mali’s neighbours, France and the United States. The AU, on Friday, voiced its total rejection of the declaration of “Independence” by the rebel group in northern Mali. Jean Ping condemned the announcement, calling it “null and of no value whatsoever.” He reiterated AU’s unwavering commitment to the national unity and territorial integrity of Mali, and that the AU and its member states would spare no efforts to contribute to the restoration of the authority of the Republic of Mali on its entire territory, and bring to an end the attacks being carried out by armed and terrorist groups in the northern part of the country.